Mobile TV Handover Synchronization via Delay Compensation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile TV systems face interruptions when switching between DVB-H and WiFi networks due to differences in transmission delays, leading to issues with duplicate and missing content packets during handovers.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for synchronizing video streams by measuring delay differences between DVB-H and WiFi networks, dropping duplicate packets, and requesting missing content using an ARQ mechanism to ensure continuous playback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If handover is performed between DVB-H and WiFi networks, then network coverage and accessibility are improved, but transmission delay differences cause duplicate and missing content packets

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidcontent packet accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by measuring transmission delays from both DVB-H and WiFi networks before handover occurs. The system calculates delay differences in advance and pre-adjusts buffer timing to compensate for expected delay variations, preventing duplicate and missing packets before they occur during handover.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors and measures transmission delays from both networks, using this feedback to dynamically adjust buffer timing and handover parameters. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that delay differences are compensated in real-time, maintaining content packet accuracy during network transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Duration of action of stationary object

If content is buffered during handover, then continuous playback is maintained, but delay measurement and packet management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous playbackVSAvoidbuffer management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes buffer timing parameters dynamically based on measured delay differences between networks. By adjusting buffer delay as a controllable parameter rather than using fixed timing, the system maintains continuous playback while managing complexity through parameterization rather than complex control logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If delay difference is measured and compensated, then seamless handover is achieved, but processing overhead and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover smoothnessVSAvoiddelay measurement processing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by autonomously measuring its own transmission delays and automatically compensating for delay differences without external intervention. This self-measuring and self-correcting approach achieves seamless handover while minimizing processing overhead by using the system's existing resources for delay measurement rather than adding complex external measurement infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2191666B1Access network handover for a mobile television system
Publication Date: 2018.06.06 THOMSON LICENSING SA
  • EP2191666B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2191666B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2191666B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A method and apparatus are described for content delivery, including receiving content from a first network, moving into a coverage area of a second network, performing a handover, receiving content from the second network and dropping any duplicate content packets. Also described are a method and apparatus for content delivery including receiving content from a first network, performing a handover, receiving content from a second network, determining if any content is missing and requesting the missing content.